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Measuring technology flexibility
European Journal of Information Systems
... Nelson and Ghods defined the feature of modularity to be important to achieve functional flexibility. 15 Here, a system is divided into certain, less complex parts that fulfill distinct functions and can be removed or exchanged from the system separately. ...
... 14 Nelson and Ghods presumed the feature of consistency as important for the overall acceptance of the system to changes. 15 The standardization of the inter-and intrasystem interfaces can achieve this consistency. ...
... This approach is in line with the idea of gaining flexibility via component-sharing modularity. 15,19 At the communication level, the system needs to be capable of addressing all devices in the network to make centralized process control, data administration, and analysis possible (see the Management Architecture Concept section). The handling and loading of previously unknown samples hold a conflict of aims, however, since the handling units are usually specially designed for one or just a few sample container types or devices. ...
Ambitions to improve the connectivity of devices to enable automation and digital representation of processes have been around for some time. Nevertheless, some companies, especially in life science and analytical science, tend to adopt these developments rather slowly. In the field of microbial analysis of drinking and process water, for example, a large part of the work is still carried out manually, although the high number of samples per day and the low fluctuation in work processes would predestine water analysis for a higher degree of automation. Obstacles such as the risk of bottlenecks and possible downtimes after machine failure, the spatial conditions together with the low flexibility of the automated system, a lack of trained personnel, and the high acquisition costs hinder this development, however.
To lower these barriers, we have developed a system for the generation of flexibly expandable automated process lines, which handles sample handling and sample transport as a decisive step in the networking of several devices. The system allows the connection of devices that are distributed over the entire laboratory or close to each other, as well as those with a combination of both spatial situations. A functional or throughput expansion of the process can be realized by adding additional devices or storage areas to the network.
With this concept, we have established a system for the automatic processing of defined steps of a routine Legionella pneumophila screening in drinking water testing. From this starting point, the process can be extended to cover further steps, such as concentrating or plating, up to the full analytical workflow.
... Drawing on the tripartite view of technology use, ASTI (Schmitz et al. 2016) can be complemented with DOI (Olsson and Russo 2004) "input-process-output" framework (Schmitz et al. 2016), to extend the research model by Shao et al. (2021) with two moderator variables on resource constraints in the task environment, namely: Dissatisfaction with enterprise IT and BYOD/CYOD policy void (Junglas et al. 2018). We also add individuals' empowerment with IT (Junglas et al. 2022;Junglas and Harris 2013) and technology malleability (Nelson and Ghods 1998) as structuration inputs (antecedents) that influence the structuration process (exploitation and exploration). Finally, the output is digital creativity. ...
... design and organization) and processes (e.g. usage procedures) (Nelson and Ghods 1998). Moreover, the traditional measures of adoptability for CIT, as articulated in DOI (Olsson and Russo 2004), increases the chance of trying and fitting these technologies in different use contexts. ...
This study-in-progress investigates the consumerization of IT (CoIT) in resource-constrained contexts and its potential for fostering employee-driven digital innovation in emerging economies. Drawing on adaptive structuration theory for individuals (ASTI) and the theory of diffusion of innovations (DOI), a comprehensive research model on the relationship between individuals’ digital ambidexterity and digital creativity is presented. A mixed-method approach to data collection and analysis is proposed. We contribute to the literature by extending an existing model with the moderating role of resource constraints. Furthermore, individuals’ empowerment with IT and the malleability of consumer information technology are also proposed to amplify individuals’ digital ambidexterity. Practically, this research aims to inform management in similar contexts to recognize and effectively manage CoIT as a digital innovation driver.
... Sourcing flexibility is also defined as the ready capability of firms' supply chain architecture to cope up to change; to realign the chain in response to market uncertainty and change; to rapidly send and receive products cost effectively. Additionally, sourcing flexibility looks at configure information systems with existing supply chain entities to meet changing information needs (More and Subash Babu, 2010;Nelson and Ghods, 1998;Stevenson and Spring, 2007). To measure sourcing flexibility, this study adopted measurement indicators by previous studies of Swafford et al. (2006) such as change delivery times of order placed with suppliers, change quantity of supplier's order, range of products manufactured by your business unit, rotate workers among different manufacturing tasks, change production volume capacity when necessary among others. ...
... However, to achieve flexibility, information sharing is vital (Golden and Powell, 1999;Samra-Fredericks, 2005;Gosain et al., 2005;Lummus et al., 2005;Schmenner and Tatikonda, 2005). Accordingly, this will make it possible to cope with change and to rapidly send and receive products more costs effectively (Nelson and Ghods, 1998;Stevenson and Spring, 2007). The remarks are in conformance earlier scholars on organisational business performance (Nadhim et al., 2018;Lafuente et al., 2017;Langston and Ghanbaripour, 2016). ...
... Byrd and Turner (2001) and Chung et al. (2003) assessed the impact of information infrastructure on competitive advantage. Nelson and Ghods (1998) provided a framework to assess the flexibility of individual IS. ...
The need for flexibility in organisations and information systems has long been recognised. Much research has been conducted to understand the flexibility concept in various types of information systems. Comparatively less research has been conducted to understand the process of managing flexibility in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This paper focuses on developing a conceptual framework for managing flexibility in ERP systems emphasising the need for a match between external and internal flexibilities. The application of the framework is illustrated with a case example. The framework is intended to understand ERP systems' flexibility enabled organisational performance. The framework will provide a basis to assess the impact of ERP systems' flexibility on organisations, to measure the internal and external flexibilities of ERP systems and to develop guidelines to manage flexibilities for ERP systems.
يهدف هذا البحث الى قياس مستويات المرونة التنظيمية في وزارة الإسكان والإعمار والبلديات والأشغال العامة. تم استخدام البحث التحليلي وطبقت على عينة من المدراء و معاونيهم ورؤساء الأقسام في أربع مديريات تابعة للوزارة مجتمع البحث (المديرية العامة للبلديات، المديرية العامة للمجاري، المديرية العامة للماء، المديرية العامة للتخطيط العمراني) و بلغ عدد أفراد العينة (119) فرداً، وتم جمع البيانات عن طريق الاستبانة، كما تم استخدام عدد من الوسائل الإحصائية لمعالجة البيانات منها: الوسط الحسابي، الانحراف المعياري وتم تحليل البيانات عبر مجموعة من البرامج الاحصائية و هي (SPSS، Amos24 )،أما أبرز الاستنتاجات فتمثلت: بوجود جيد لمرونة العمليات داخل وزارة الإسكان والاعمار والبلديات والأشغال العامة، وتوجد متابعة للعمليات والإجراءات التي تتم داخل الوزارة من أجل تقييمها وفي حال وجود انحرافات تتم معالجتها وتعديلها في الوقت المناسب، واختتم البحث بمجموعة من التوصيات كان من أهمها: تنمية الوعي لدى الإدارة العليا والموظفين بأهمية المرونة التنظيمية في الوزارة والتركيز على تطبيقه داخل الوزارة، لقدرته على الارتقاء بمستوى العملية الادارية في الوزارة.
This paper intends to understand the form of implementations of Enterprise Information Systems (EISs). EISs are usually provided as packaged software products. Due to the diversities of implementations, EISs are often characterized by their system architectures. A conceptual framework is proposed to delineate the diversity and dynamics of EIS implementations. This framework is constituted of three components, EIS strategy, variety, and process-level performance (SVP). In particular, the variety of implementations is defined by two constructs, application scope and application depth. A Partial Least Squares structural equation modeling approach is applied to test the hypotheses according to the survey data from 223 project reports of EIS implementations in China. The results show that the EIS strategy and variety can both affect the performance of the implemented EISs. Specifically, application depth has an important mediating effect on the relationship between EIS strategy and performance. EIS strategy and application depth are breakthrough points to improve the performance of the implemented EISs. These findings suggest that the variety plays a central and effective role in the analysis of EIS implementations. This SVP framework highlights the interconnections among its components and captures the form of EIS implementations.
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